HERALD – JANUARY 2010
Dear Members
Happy New Year!! Hopefully you had a lovely break over the Festive period and managed to squeeze in some rest and relaxation!! 2010 is now upon us and it is proving to be a very busy start to the year for everyone involved in Heartlands Country.
Our first task at hand is the Agrifood Skills Workshops, which we briefly covered in our last edition of the Herald for 2009. This year’s workshops – which will be held in February, will be focusing on the marketing aspects of your small business. There are more details included below in this edition of the Herald, so make sure you have a good read and call Jemma to book to your place. Places are limited and bookings are essential!! The workshops are exceptional value for money as they are heavily subsidised for Heartland Country members.
It is also nearly time for the Heartlands Country AGM, which will be a significant meeting for our members this year. We would love to see as many members as possible attending as there are some decisions to be made about the way forward for Heartlands Country. The AGM will be held on the evening of the 4th February after the workshops, so please mark the date in your diaries, as we hope to see you there. There are more details on the AGM below.
Some dates and events for your diaries:
QUICK INDEX
· AGRIFOOD SKILLS WORKSHOP – MARKETING - 4 AND 5 FEBRUARY 2010
· HEARTLANDS COUNTRY AGM
· GINGIN OBSERVATORY - FUNDING FOR STARS!
· OUTBACK AROMAS - NEW PRODUCTS 2010
AGRIFOOD SKILLS WORKSHOP – MARKETING
4th AND 5th FEBRUARY 2010
Heartlands Country members have one last chance to get involved with an Agrifood Skills Workshop. On 4 and 5 February 2010, Andrew Moore from Response Learning will make another visit to present on:
“Marketing Your Business” and “Managing Your Team”
This workshop will be focused on your individual business with Andrew giving you tools and strategies to develop and/or improve your current marketing and team management skills. Topics include:
- Developing marketing strategies
- Evaluating target markets
- Determine marketing objectives; and
- Planning and developing the marketing mix
Places are again limited, and bookings are essential!!
Details are as follows:
Date: Thursday, 4 February 2010 - 10am – 5pm; and
Friday, 5 February 2010 – 9am – 5pm
Venue: Granville Civic Centre, Weld Street, Gingin
Cost: Heartlands Country Members - $66 for both days
Non-members - $132 for both days
Bookings: Jemma Vanzetti, 9651 1770
The workshop includes morning tea and lunch each day. Also included is a fabulous networking dinner and stargazing on Thursday night! Check out one of Gingin's amazing attractions and enjoy a meal at the Gravity Discovery Centre's Stargazers' Cafe before heading to the stars at Gingin Observatory. If you've always been meaning to visit, now's the perfect opportunity!
If you would like further information or to make your booking, please contact Jemma Vanzetti on 08 9651 1770 or email Jemma on Jemma.vanzetti@wheatbelt.wa.gov.au. Please remember, bookings are essential.
HEARTLANDS COUNTRY AGM
It's an important AGM for Heartlands Country - and it is combined with an excellent Marketing Workshop to be held 4th and 5th February 2010 in Gingin.
In the lead up to this AGM, the current Board would like to you consider the future of Heartlands Country and if it still has a role to play in marketing quality, value added products and services from the Wheatbelt region. It is felt that perhaps Heartlands Country has passed its use-by date and is, now, not such a useful organisation.
At this forthcoming AGM, the current Board will step down and the following Board Members cannot be re-elected: Pam Lannin, Chair; Suzanne Woods, Board Member; Wendy Newman, Board Member and Carol Redford, Treasurer.
In the event that a new Board cannot be elected from the Heartlands Country membership, a resolution to wind up the incorporated body will be moved at the meeting. The notice of AGM has been sent out. If you haven't received your advice, please let us know.
The 2009 Annual General Meeting for The Regional Branding Group Inc (Heartlands Country) has been delayed as the current Board have been unable to
allocate enough time to organise the meeting up until now. Additionally, the Treasurer has not yet issued membership invoices for the 2009/10 year.
The Board look forward to any comments and more so, to seeing you at the forthcoming AGM. Details are as follows:
Date: Thursday, 4 February 2010
Time: 5:00pm
Venue: The Granville Civic Centre, Weld Street, Gingin.
We look forward to seeing you at this important meeting.
GINGIN OBSERVATORY - FUNDING FOR STARS!
An offer of TQUAL Grant funding has been received by the Gravity Discovery Centre Foundation to develop concept designs and plans for an expansion and upgrade to Gingin Observatory.
Plans include an extension to the Observatory to house a reception, exhibition space and shop, a state-of-the-art theatre upgrade allowing for innovative 3D stereoscopic astronomy presentations and a radio astronomy dish and control room for a new public outreach program.
The Wheatbelt Development Commission has granted $67,000 through the Royalties for Regions Wheatbelt Regional Grants Scheme and a further offer of $62,500 has been received from Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism TQUAL Grants administered through AusIndustry. The Australian Government is supporting 70 projects worth more than $8M under the TQUAL Grants and the Gravity Discovery Centre’s project is the only one offered assistance in the Perth region of Western Australia.
Founding Astronomer of the Observatory, Mr David Nicolson, said “This is exciting news to end the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Perth, being the most isolated city in the world, offers night skies with the least light and air pollution on Earth. You only have to drive out a little way to enjoy a first class stargazing experience. With the improvements to the Observatory at Gingin, the experience will be second to none.”
If you would like more information about the Observatory, please contact
OUTBACK AROMAS - NEW PRODUCTS 2010
Outback Aromas has been very busy developing a fabulous new range of wonderful and delectable products – which smell almost so good you could eat them!!! So, we have decided to share with you a small sample of what is on offer:
Aromas Soap Trees - Layers of soap leaves with colours and fragrances to suit all tastes. Aroma Soap Tree’s make a perfect present for anyone. $25.00 each.
Raspberry Ripple Roll - Ripples of fresh raspberries with colours infused into the slice. Made from goat’s milk and glycerine. $6.00 each.
Pearberry Slice - Pears and mixed berries blended together to create this yummy slice of soap. (Please note: this is for the bath not to eat!!) $6.00 each.
Outback Aromas can help you with any event in your life. Angel Kisses soy candles (memorial candles), Bombonerie – soap or soy candles, or workshops to
learn the art of soap & soy candle making. If you would like more information, or to find out how you can purchase some of these fabulous products, please contact Outback Aromas on 08 90411819 or by email on
HEARTLANDS HERALD CONTRIBUTIONS
If you have an article, photo or information that you feel Heartlands Country members would like to read about – please email me at Stephanie.Clarke@wheatbelt.wa.gov.au and where I have opportunity to include contributions – I will. We are always looking for relevant and interesting articles to share with our members.
We look forward to seeing members at our Agrifoods Skills workshops and also the AGM. Please don’t hesitate to contact Jemma should you require any further information on either event.
* Stephanie Clarke
Heartlands Country